Study: Gay marriages could help economy FORT SMITH (AP) — Supporters of same-sex marriage say legalizing the unions could benefit the Arkansas economy by $24 million. A Nerdwallet report based on data from Gallup and the Wedding Report predicts that couples will spend more time planning weddings and also spend more money — and that marriages would continue to occur, the Southwest Times Record reported. "The most interesting thing to me about the report is the longevity aspect of it,...

It's not too late!With Black Friday in full swing, the best sales of the year are attracting shoppers to retailers across the River Valley. Wondering which stores have the best deals? For those who did not pick up a copy of Thursday's edition of The Courier, here's what you missed: • 17 inserts. • 392 total pages of advertisements. • One tab of 72 pages and another with 56. But there's good news. We still have dozens of copies of Thursday's paper on hand at our...

The Courier: Your guide to Black FridayBlack Friday is just two days away! Before you set out to take advantage of some of the biggest sales of the year, make sure you pick up Thursday's edition of The Courier. The Courier's Thanksgiving edition is brimming with advertisements from local retailers, 392 total pages to be exact. With 17 inserts, Thursday's newspaper weighs in at two pounds. That's right, two pounds! Be sure to grab a copy at one of 90 locations the paper is available...

Thanksgiving edition to be stuffed with adsWith Black Friday inching closer, retailers across the River Valley are gearing up for the biggest shopping day of the year. Wondering which store has the best deal on the items at the top of your list? In Thursday's edition of The Courier, nearly 400 total pages of advertisements are featured in 17 inserts, some of which are more than 50 pages! With more than 90 locations available in the area to pick up a paper, you won't have to stand in li...

Heavy rains may hike winter cattle costs HARRISON (AP) — Agriculture officials say heavy rains that have fallen this year may have driven up production costs for Arkansas cattle farmers this winter. The National Agricultural Statistics Service says 52 percent of Arkansas' pastures are in good or excellent condition. Heavy rains throughout the year largely benefited cattle farmers with plentiful hay. But excessive rains in north-central Arkansas diminished the crop's nutrient content ...

Group: Obama order may benefit 14,000 in Arkansas President Barack Obama's executive action aimed at sparing nearly 5 million people in the U.S. from being deported, which one group estimated could affect at least 14,000 immigrants living illegally in Arkansas, drew criticism from state politicians but praise from human rights activists. The president's executive order has been decried by Republicans as a presidential overstep. Some important things to know about it: WHO'S AFFECTED The immigr...

Arkansas trots to No. 2 turkey-producing state KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Arkansas has trotted into second place among turkey-producing states after North Carolina's gobbler population fell sharply as U.S. turkey numbers hit a 28-year low. The National Agricultural Statistics Service reports Minnesota remained king of the roost in 2014 with an estimated 45 million birds, an increase of 1 million over 2013. Arkansas saw its turkey population rise from 28 million to 29 million in the same span,...

Hutchinson not keeping Tennille at economic agency LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas Gov.-elect Asa Hutchinson says he's not keeping the state's chief economic development official when he takes office next year. The incoming Republican governor on Friday said he had decided not to keep Grant Tennille as the Arkansas Economic Development Commission's director. Hutchinson, who defeated Democrat and fellow ex-congressman Mike Ross in the Nov. 4 election, said his transition steering committee is alrea...

Entergy announcing new center in Little Rock LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Entergy is announcing construction of a new $23-million transmission operations center that will be one of two twin centers in the corporation's four-state service area. Groundbreaking on the project is set Monday in Little Rock. Before this year, Entergy had five such centers and one system operating center in cities throughout its service area. The company says it's consolidating those operations into two locations to impr...

All 75 counties OK minimum wage hike LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Every county in Arkansas supported a ballot measure to gradually increase the state's minimum wage to $8.50 by 2017. The initiated act was easily approved in Tuesday's election and enjoyed widespread support throughout the state. The measure was supported in all 75 counties. Throughout the state, voters enthusiastically embraced the plan, which raises the minimum wage to $7.50 an hour in 2015, to $8 in 2016 and to $8.50 in 2...

Arkansas sees revenue rise in October LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas finance officials say the state's revenue rose in October and is above year-to-date expectations. The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration said Tuesday that net available revenue in October totaled $402.8 million. That's $30.0 million more than last year and $18.2 million above the state's forecast. The report said sales tax collections accounted for $7.7 million of the gain for the month and corporate ...

State Supreme Court remands alcohol question LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A sharply divided Arkansas Supreme Court has sent a proposal to legalize alcohol sales in Saline County back to circuit court to determine if there are enough valid signatures to put the question on the Nov. 4 ballot. Circuit Judge Grisham Phillips ruled last month that the petition fell nearly 90 signatures short after more than 150 signatures were disqualified. The group Our Community, Our Dollars argued there are enough v...

Wal-Mart ups ante on holiday shopping NEW YORK (AP) — Wal-Mart is doing whatever it takes to rope in holiday shoppers however they want to buy. For the first time, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is offering free shipping on what it considers the season's top 100 hottest gifts, from board games to items related to Disney's hit film "Frozen" items, starting Saturday. The move comes as rival Target Corp. began offering free shipping on all items, a program that started late October and will la...